Vegetable Gardening in SW Quebec - & Agricultural Zones 5 & 5A

A list of crops that can endure until autumn in SW QC  - As per a request from a friend.

I am by no means a genius when it comes to gardening, and I'm a weak, old, pathetic woman that hates bending and heat and weeds and just a plain old lazy gardener, who does it more out of necessity than enjoyment.  Although I've persisted over the years, trying different vegetables and different methods of gardening.  I've finally settled on the laziest methods I could find that is using a weed block mat covering for my entire garden and trying to find perennials that will grow in our zone and our soil conditions. I haven't yet found enough perennials to even fill my garden let alone our freezer or pantry, so I'm still hunting for more.  So far the perennials that I've come up with that are supposed to grow here are:

Perennials:

• Raspberries
• Mint
• Blueberries
• Rhubarb
• Kale
• Certain kinds of lettuce (mostly the leaf lettuce which is harvested by leaf, and the plant itself is left there to go to seed).
• Asparagus
• Apples
• Mustard
• Various herbs like Parsley, Dill, Fennel
• Arugula
• Strawberries
• Grapes
• Onions 
• Winter Spinach aka Morning Glory (used in Asian cooking) - grows as a weed here.
• Dandelions - I don't even have to try to grow those they just grow all over the place by themselves. Make sure no dogs leak on them though. Perhaps wash them a bit before use. - They make excellent wine, jelly & salads and are great diuretics. 

Cultivatable Crops in SW QC in Cold Temperatures - as per my own experience

If anyone in the region knows of other crops that grows well in this zone in cold temperatures, please let me know and I'll add them into the list here.  People in other areas of the country and agriculture zones please post in the comments the crops you're able to grow there under similar conditions. This is all in an effort to help everyone out who may be facing exorbitant prices for vegetables in the upcoming year, considering the actions being taken by the gov't to curb the spread of COVID-19. So we may well have to rely on ourselves in order to feed ourselves. So anyone anywhere in the country is allowed to post in the comments whatever information they can provide for people in their area and it will be welcome and added to the list for that particular area and agriculture zone. 

The first thing to know is that most crops rated for agriculture zones 5 & 5A through to 3 & 4 will probably grow in the region. Most seed packets list the agriculture zones they're good for. Second a lot of crops like tomatoes etc, require a longer growing season than we have here and if grown from seed will need to be started indoors several weeks before the last frost (usually around May 21st - Victoria Day or whatever they renamed that holiday here in QC - anyhow the long weekend near that date).  All seeds that says you can plant as soon as the soil can be worked (meaning when you've had at least 10 straight days & nights above 0C) can be planted then. Most of those crops are cold weather crops, meaning they'll survive mild frosts and even a light dusting of snow if it melts within a reasonable time. Thus, they will still be viable crops under the same conditions in autumn.  So  things like: 

Crops able to withstand frost & cold

• Carrots
• Beets
• Kale
• Mustard
• Swiss Chard
• Broccoli & Broccolini
• Cauliflower
• Turnip - Rutabaga
• Collard Greens
• Squashes of various kinds
• Pumpkin
• Apples
• Raspberries
• Cabbage
• Kohl Rabi
• Onions
• Potatoes 
• Parsnip
• Arugula

 Summer Crops

Most other vegetables like cucumbers, corn, spinach, beans, peas, zucchini (summer squash), tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, radishes, cantalope, etc have to be planted after the last frost date as noted above - May 21st holiday weekend and harvested before the first frost in autumn. I generally buy small tomato & pepper plants to plant in my garden as I have not had luck growing them from seed in the house.